Fort Worth Southwest Christian head coach Steve Wood speaks to his team after a game against Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Country Day.
Charles Baggarly
Star-Telegram
FORT WORTH
For Aledo legend Steve Wood, coaching a TAPPS Division II private school is certainly a change of scenery from his time with the Bearcats.
The majority of his tenure with Aledo was spent as an athletic director, but he did coach Title Town from 2014 to 2019, posting an 75-4 overall record and winning three Class 5A Division II state championships. When he retired in 2023, he had a career in public school athletics rivaling the nation’s best.
He didn’t need to continue, but he wanted to. Ahead of the 2026 season, Southwest Christian announced stunning news: Wood was returning to the sidelines to coach Eagle football.
“It’s been wonderful,” Wood said. “They’re great kids. It’s just a great place. It’s unique. It’s different than anything I’ve ever done in my life. But I’m enjoying it, and I’m having fun getting to coach ball and be around great people. It’s sweet.”
Southwest Christian football takes the field after halftime in a game against Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
The job for Wood remains the same: Put the team in the best position to win football games. At the same time, Wood said there is great personal satisfaction and fulfillment in leading a faith-based, Christian school.
“These kids are taught Bible classes daily, and we pray daily, and we are expected to lead by Christian example for them and help grow them to be servants of God,” Wood said. “They’re great kids. They work hard.”
Southwest Christian football players celebrate a victory over Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
On Thursday, Southwest Christian captured an 24-14 win over Fort Worth Country Day, improving to 3-1 on the season. After congratulating the team for a gritty performance, he led a postgame prayer — that’s actually a common sight in both public and private school football.
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Fort Worth Southwest Christian head coach Steve Wood leads his team in a prayer after a win over Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
The main difference is private schools can incorporate faith in everything: classes, assemblies, schoolwide prayer and more.
“You come to one of our chapels, you’ll have [hundreds of] kids, and you can hear a pin drop,” Wood said. “You can just feel the Holy Spirit moving through the whole place. It’s very gratifying.”
Building Eagle football
When SCS hired a championship-caliber coach, it invested in its football program with the hopes of attracting talent and, eventually, building a program that can compete among TAPPS best.
Southwest Christian quarterback Elijah Hufstetler looks downfield against Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
The success won’t happen overnight; the Eagles posted a 6-5 overall and 1-4 district record last season. The year ended with a four-game losing streak and a 62-2 loss to Austin Regents.
Wood said the squad has been moving in the right direction since he took over.
“They want to be good,” Wood said. “… We haven’t arrived yet, but it’s been a great experience. … I think they should be proud right now. I’m proud of them. They’re competing. … We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re having fun. We’re practicing hard, and we come out and do the best we can. And that’s really all you can ask out of anybody.”
Fort Worth Southwest Christian receiver Crosby Pipes races to the end zone for a touchdown in a victory over Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
Sophomore wide receiver Crosby Pipes said with Wood at the helm, the team is more “excited to play football.”
“Everything is more positive this year,” Pipes said. “We’ve got a whole new playbook. We pass the ball more. We get people to the ball, and I think people just come ready to work, and they’re actually enthusiastic for the game. [Wood] gets to know everyone on a personal level. Every single player. He doesn’t just know you as a player. He knows you as a person.”
Competing with Fort Worth-area powers
Southwest Christian is Texas Private School Media’s No. 7 squad in Division II. Fort Worth All Saints is No. 1, and Fort Worth Christian comes in at No. 6.
All Saints has become the gold standard in TAPPS Division II and, arguably, the entire private school realm. The Saints are favored to win three consecutive state championships this season led by head coach Aaron Beck.
The Saints’ dominance makes winning district a very lofty goal for SCS. Still, there are ways to improve and find success.
“I want to compete,” Wood said. “That’s what I want to do. It’ll be tough. It’s a great district. There’s good football teams every week. I want to know our kids are going to go compete and go lay it on the line, and we’ll let the chips fall wherever they do.”
Fort Worth Country Day’s Harrison Holman stiff-arms a defender Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
Wood said he pushed for dedication and commitment in the weight room to set the tone for this season and the future. Building up the Eagles could take a season, or it could take years.
Wood, 69, said he hasn’t put any thought into how long he wants to coach. For now, he said he is having fun and enjoying the ride.
“I’m healthy right now, and [Southwest Christian] is a great place,” Wood said. “And who knows? They may not want me around very long.”
Fort Worth Southwest Christian head coach Steve Wood roams the sidelines during a game against Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
In his first game back on the sidelines, Wood said he was nervous. It was a familiar feeling he missed in his life — one that he’s had in every game he’s coached. He’ll feel the same way when SCS faces its next opponent, Class 3A squad West, at home.
“It was the same feeling as when I coached before,” Wood said. “It’s that feeling that you can’t get anywhere else unless you’re young enough to be able to play, you know? And some of that’s part of what I missed about the whole thing. I miss just the whole interaction, the relationships, the grind of [the season]. It’s just something that when you do it for so long, it’s hard to put it away. “
Southwest Christian’s Owen Haller forces a fumble in the fourth quarter against Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram 
Fort Worth Country Day’s Owen Bloemendal carries the ball against Fort Worth Country Day on Thursday at Country Day. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram 
Fort Worth Country Day head coach Keith Burns points his finger in a game against Southwest Christian at Fort Worth Country Day High School in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram .JPG "729A3795 (1).JPG")
Southwest Christian players congratulate Tre’von Taylor after a first-half touchdown run at Fort Worth Country Day High School in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram .JPG "729A3988 (1).JPG")
Fort Worth Country Day’s Hayes Casey is chased by Southwest Christian defenders in a game against Fort Worth Country Day at Fort Worth Country Day High School in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 11:42 AM.
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.